With all that going on, or not going on as it were, pretty much everyone has forgotten that running back Ryan Grant is about to be a free agent. That’s probably because no one really expects the Packers to re-sign him and frankly, he wouldn’t be that big of a loss if he left.

Grant came on late in the season, but only rushed for 559 yards and two touchdowns in 2011. He’ll turn 30 in December, which is the age running backs’ production seems to drop off a cliff.

Still, the Packers have said they want him back, but they’re going to let the free agent market determine his value.

“He will hit free agency,” his agent, Alan Herman, said. “But they gave us an indication they would like to have him back. I have to sit down with Ryan in the next few days and see what he wants to do. I haven’t talked to him about it yet. I’m sure he’s open to that (returning). On the other hand, being a free agent is enticing.”

It looks like the Packers will consider bringing Grant back at the right price, which is presumably a low price. The team has James Starks, Alex Green and Brandon Saine already on the roster. There are problems with each of those players though, so someone else will have to be added to the mix.

Starks his injury-prone, Green is coming off a torn ACL and won’t be at full strength for some time, and Saine, who was on the practice squad for most of 2011, still has a lot to learn.

That still doesn’t make Grant a slam dunk to return, although we’d bet he’ll be back at a reasonable rate. We can’t see the market for a soon-to-be 30-year-old running back who rushed for just over 500 yards last season being a hot one.

If we’re wrong, the Packers can certainly find a decent replacement in the draft.

I think between Starks and Saine the pack can sign another guy and be fine. Grant looked slow you watch a Starks and Grant carry side by side Starks was bursting through the hole while Grant looked more liked a fullback running with the ball.

I may be wrong, but it seems like the Pack built an O line geared more toward pass protection than run blocking. I say this only because they seem to do a pretty solid job at the former, and less so at the latter. With all the needs they have on the defensive side of the ball, I can’t imagine they would burn a pick on a back in the draft.

I don’t see Grant getting much more than the veteran’s minimum, from anyone.

RBs can be found later in the draft. The Packers could use a smaller back with some quickness and good hands. In other words, they need a shotgun back, like Brandon Jackson with a bit more explosiveness.

They don’t need any more 20 carries a game guys. That is basically what Grant is. He isn’t the kind of guy that is going to produce a lot with 12 touches a game, and that is about what our RBs can expect.